Egg tester and delivery box.



T. McLAUGHLIN.

EGG TESTER AND DELIVERY BOX. I APPLICATION FILED xum: 25. 1914. RENEWED SEPT. 19, 1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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THOMAS MGLAUGHLIN, OIE SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE HARTLEY STEEL CRATEID BOX. COMPANY, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA- TION OF MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

FFatented Nov. '7, 1916.

Application filed June 25, 1914, Serial No. 847,308. Renewed September 19, 1916. Serial No. 121,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MGLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg Testers and Delivery Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to .the subject of receptacles for eggs and other fragile articles, and the primary aim of the invention is to produce a receptacle of the type stated that will thoroughly protect its contents from damage; which is so constructed that removal of its contents is facilitated without damaging the same; and which, when used as a container for eggs, can be utilized in connection with a light to test the eggs.

The invention contemplates in its general organization a receptacle having a compartment therein provided with individual cells for the eggs or other articles, each cell being provided with means for preventing its contents dropping through the bottom there of and a cover therefor provided with openings complemental to the cells, the cover being hinged to the receptacle, so that by reversing the receptacle, the contents of the cells seat in the openings of the cover, whereupon by moving the receptacle on its hinge connection with said cover, the contents of the cells aretransferred to the cover so that said contents can be readily removed from said cover.

, In addition to the foregoing important feature of the invention, it is contemplated to arrange the compartment and cover, so that the light can only penetrate through the cells and openings in the cover, the arrangement being such that when eggs are packed in the receptacle, a light may be used in connection with the receptacle to permit all eggs within the receptacle to be tested, or candled.

In carrying out the invention as generally stated above, it will he understood that modifications may be resorted to so far as details of parts and structural arrangements are concerned, practical embodiments thereof being shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved receptacle, the same being shown as it appears when used for testing eggs. Fig.

2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the receptacle, dotted lines being used to indicate the elevated position of the cover. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner of transferring the contents of the receptacle to the cover thereof. Fig, at is a fragmentary detail view illustratlng a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the receptacle as it appears when closed. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a bottom protector for the receptacle.

The improved receptacle comprises an outer case or frame preferably formed of the side and end boards, 2 and 1, respectively, which may be of veneer, cardboard, sheet metal or other convenient material. Within the case a container is disposed and which. is preferably formed of a flat top 3 having openings l formed therein at regular intervals and a bottom 5 having openings 6 formed therein complemental to and in alinement with the openings f in the top 3. The openings 4 are larger in diameter than the openings 6, and tubes 7 are extended through said openings 4 and rest on the bottom 5 and surround the openings 6 in spaced relation to form base ledges 8 within the bottoms or lower ends of the tubes 7. The container may be made of cardboard or other sheet material, or of thin wood, and the tubes 7 and top and bottom 3 and 5 are glued or otherwise permanently attached in rigid relation. The arrangement of the tubes 7 is such that individual cells are formed for the contents of the container. The container is so disposed within the case or frame that the sides 2 of said case project above and below said container and just below the bottom of the container, the said sides 2 havetheir inner surfaces provided with longitudinal grooves 9 that form slideways for a base protecting plate 10 which prevents the lower ends of the contents of the cells 7 that project through the bottom of the container from being damaged, and is of special utility when two or more receptacles are arranged in stacked relation. Obviously the plate 10 may be readily removed when desired.

A cover 11 is hinged to one end of the case, as shown more clearlyin Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, and said cover is provided with openings 12 complemental to but smaller in diameter than the open ngs 4 in the top 3 of the container. The free end of the cover 11 projects slightly beyond the forward end of the case, and said forward end of the case is provided with a spring or other preferred type of clasp 13 for engaging the free end of the cover to cover resting on a suitable supporting surface, as shown in Fig. 3, and when the cover is in its closed position, the supports 15 form seats for superimposed receptacles when two or more receptacles are arranged in stacked relation.

In Fig. 4. of the drawings a variation of the inventionf is suggested wherein the confers from thecontainer shown and described tainer 16 may beformed from a solid piece of wood or other material that'is shaped to provide the individual cells 17 the bases of which are provided with internal annular seating ledges 18. The container 16, as will be understood from the foregoing, only clifin connection with the preferred form of the invention in that in said preferred form the container is formed from, or by, the top 3, bottom 5, and cells 7, whereas in the varia-' tion of the invention the container is formed from one solid piece of material;

" In Fig. 3 of the drawings the container is shown in a position where its contents have been transferredto the cover 11, and such is accomplished by reversing. the receptacle so that the said cover 11 restsona suitable supporting surface and the contents of the cells are resting in the openings 12; the case and contalner are then rocked away from the cover 11 upon the hinge connection, so

that the contents of the cells T" are left in the openings of the cover 11 in positions to be readily removed.

The improved receptacle may bereadily used in connection with various kinds of fragile articles as well as eggs; but the same I has been found of particular utility inconnection with eggs for the reason that the cells 7 openings 4 and 6 of the container, and the openings 1-2 of the cover 1-1 are in 'alinement, so that by removing the proteeting plate 10. and placing the receptacle in front of a source of'light, such as indicated at A in Fig. 1, the eggs may be readily tested.

What I claim as my invention 1s z- 1. A receptacle comprlslng a frame having side walls, and end walls. ofless height than the side walls, a container in the frame having cells provided with seats at their lower'ends for the eggs, a removable plate slidable between the side walls to protect the ends of eggs on said'seats, and a' cover hinged to one of the end walls and arranged to swing to closed positionbetween the projecting edges of the side walls, said cover having openings in line with andsmaller in diameter than the cells. I

2. A receptacle comprising a case, a container therein and disposed above the lower edge and below the upper edge of the case,

said container being provided with indi} vidual'cells having seats at their lower ends, the ease below the container beingprovlded with opposltely disposed slideways, a protecting plate engaging the 'slideways,.and' V a cover hinged to the case, and provided with openings complemental to butof smaller diameter than the diameter otth cells.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of. two witnesses.

THOMAS M LAUGHLIN- L WVitnesse's: 7 r r H. F AnBnr, M. E; AnBnY,.

Copies of this patent may, be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner ofratents,

' Washington, D. 0; 

